ENGL 261: Introduction to U.S. American Literature I

Students will explore the context and influence of American literature from the Colonial period to the Civil War. Students will examine specific literary works and their contributions to our personal and cultural context. 54 lecture hours.

Course Content

1. Ideas, Trends, and Issues that Affect Colonial America
   1. Puritan writers: Winthrop, Bradford, Bradstreet, Wigglesworth, Rowlandson, Taylor, Sewall, Mather, Edwards,
   2. Other Colonial Writers: Morton, Byrd, Woolman
2. Federalism and the Deists: Franklin, J. Adams, A. Adams, Jefferson, Freneau
3. The Issue of Slavery: Byrd, Crevecoeur, Wheatley, Douglass, Lincoln
4. The Emergence of American Literature
   1. Romantic Elements: Irving, Cooper, Bryant, Poe, Hawthorne
   2. Transcendentalism: Emerson, Alcott, Thoreau, Walden
   3. Disciples and Dissenters: Thoreau, Melville, Whitman, Dickinson
5. The American Novel: The Scarlet Letter

Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time:
Answer discussion questions Write essays, research summaries, or journals

Two hours of independent work done out of class are required for each hour of lecture. Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time:
Course Work
Formal Essays: Each student will write two 1,200-1,600 word essays. Essays will show the student's ability to interpret literature studied in class. The thesis for each must be approved by the instructor. All rough drafts and revisions are due with each final, typed essay. All formal and in-class essays will be assessed on content, organization, style, and mechanics.
Unit Exams : Each exam will be part objective and part essay. The exams will call students to analyze literature studied in class and to demonstrate a critical understanding of literary theory and key concepts of a particular period of literature.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be based on readings and lectures to help students monitor their comprehension skills.
Responses: Written responses to readings will be completed weekly. Students will respond to a topic on an assigned reading in order to develop independent critical thinking skills.
Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam will be given at the end of the semester.

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

3B. Humanities